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Public School Parents Rally for Audible Alarms Bill

StudentsFirstNY parent members rallied today on the steps of City Hall on behalf of legislation that would require audible alarms on all public school exit doors. Here’s some of what was said:

Tenicka Boyd, StudentsFirstNY Director of Organizing

"All public schools parents in New York City drop their kids off in the morning with the belief that their school will do everything to provide them the best possible education, and to keep them safe. If a child’s school isn’t equipped to protect and educate them, it’s our job as adults to fix it, which is why the Audible Alarms Bill is so important. On behalf of the thousands of parents affiliated with StudentsFirstNY, we thank Councilmember Robert Cornegy for his leadership on this issue and we pledge our support for the Audible Alarms Bill."

"As the mom of an autistic child, and as an organizer who talks to public school parents all day, every day, I implore the City Council to pass the Audible Alarms Bill. We have seen the danger of students wandering out, and I don’t want to gamble with the safety of any more precious young lives. Adding alarms to NYC public school doors should be a no-brainer. It is the City's responsibility to protect my child when he’s at school, and I hope the Council will act to protect our kids and meet this responsibility to parents like myself."

LaToya Credle, parent member, Bushwick Chapter, Mother of 5

"As a parent, it’s terrifying when you see stories about young children leaving school unaccompanied, without anybody noticing. Doing nothing would be a violation of the basic agreement we parents have with the City. I support the Audible Alarms Bill because we have to act to protect our children."